Elliptical exercise machine with adjustable elliptical path

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine includes a pair of reciprocating slide members each having a pivotal end connected to a rotating mechanism and a sliding end slidable on a support. A foot plate  43  is mounted slidably on a corresponding slide member. A linkage unit is connected to each foot plate and the rotating mechanism, and a control mechanism is associated with the linkage unit and the foot plate for actuating the foot plate to move forward when the slide member moves forward and to move rearward when the slide member moves rearward. An elliptical path of the exercise machine can be enlarged due to the slidable foot plate and the control mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an exercise machine, more particularly to anelliptical exercise machine which permits the user to exercise by movinghis/her feet along an elliptical path.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical elliptical exercise machine includes aframe 11 which carries a pair of swinging arms 16, a pair of footmembers 14 connected to a rotating mechanism 12 through cranks 13, and apair of reciprocating members 17 each of which is connected to one ofthe swinging arms 16. The foot members 14 are provided respectively withfoot platforms 15. The bottom ends of the foot members 14 are slidablealong rails provided on the frame 11. When the user stands on the footplatforms 15 and exercises by moving the foot platforms 15 with hisfeet, the foot members 14 move forward and rearward, and the cranks 13rotate about the axis of the rotating mechanism 12 so that each footplatform 15 ascends and descends along an elliptical path.

In such an exercise machine, the length of the elliptical path along afront-to-rear direction or the stroke of the foot platforms 15 islimited by the length of the cranks 13 and thus is not changeable oradjustable. Thus, the length of the stroke may be insufficient for auser who is tall and requires a longer stroke, and may be unduly longfor a user who is short and needs a smaller stroke to avoidoverstressing his feet. If the length of the stroke is to be increased,the length of the cranks 13 must be increased to enlarge the circularpath along which the cranks move, thereby increasing the volume of theexercise machine. In addition, the lengthening of the cranks 13increases not only the length of the elliptical path along thefront-to-rear direction but also the height of the elliptical path alonga top-to-bottom direction. The increase in height of the elliptical pathcan result in overstressing of the knees of the user as the user mustlift his knees too much when making an ascending movement.

Furthermore, since the foot platforms 15 are mounted fixedly on therespective foot members 14, they are not changeable in angular positionrelative to the foot members 14. As the user's feet will incline upwardand downward alternately during their ascend and descend movements, thefoot platforms 15 which are fixed to the foot members 14 areergonomically unfavorable to the user's feet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an elliptical exercisemachine which permits foot plates to move along an elliptical pathhaving a prolonged length along a front-to-rear direction withoutincreasing the height of the elliptical path along a top-to-bottomdirection.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ellipticalexercise machine with foot plates which are movable on respectivereciprocating slide members so that the length of an elliptical pathalong which the foot plates move is adjustable.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an exercise machine whichcomprises: a support extending in a front-to-rear direction and having arotating mechanism mounted thereon; a pair of slide members mounted onthe support for reciprocating movement and each having a pivotal endconnected to the rotating mechanism and a sliding end slidable on thesupport; a foot plate mounted movably on one of the slide members; alinkage unit connecting the foot plate to the rotating mechanism forreciprocating the foot plate on the one of the slide members; and acontrol mechanism associated with the linkage unit for actuating thefoot plate to move forward when the one of the slide members movesforward and to move rearward when the one of the slide members movesrearward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional elliptical exercisemachine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferredembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is the same view as FIG. 6 but with a second arm connected to oneof retaining holes farther from a first end of a first arm;

FIG. 8 is the same view as FIG. 6 but with a pivotal end of one of slidemembers moving to a different position;

FIG. 9 is the same view as FIG. 8 but with a second arm connected to oneof retaining holes farther from a first end of a first arm;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view showing an alternative control mechanismof the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view showing another alternative controlmechanism of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote likeelements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first embodiment of an exercise machineaccording to the present invention is shown at (A) which specificallydesignates an elliptical exercise machine. The elliptical exercisemachine (A) comprises a support body 2 which includes a base 21, anupstanding frame 22 extending upward from a front end of the base 21, apair of slide rails 23 provided in the base 21, and a rotating mechanism20 mounted on the base 21 in front of the slide rails 23. The rotatingmechanism 20 may be any rotating mechanism which is used conventionallyin elliptical exercise machines. In this embodiment, the rotatingmechanism 20 includes a flywheel 201 and a pair of rotary members 24which are mounted coaxially on the base 21. While the rotary members 24as shown are circular discs, the configuration of the rotary members 24should not be limited thereto according to the present invention.

A pair of slide members 31 are mounted on the base 21 on two sides ofthe rotating mechanism 20. Each slide member 31 has a pivotal end 311connected pivotally to one of the rotary members 24 and a sliding end312 mounted slidably on the corresponding slide rail 23. A U-shaped seat32 is attached to a top face 313 of each slide member 31.

A pair of foot support members 4 are pivoted respectively to the slidemembers 31 at front ends 411 thereof. Specifically, each foot supportmember 4 has a foot support seat 41 which has a front end 411 connectedpivotally to the corresponding slime member 31. The front end 411extends into the U-shaped seat 32 of the corresponding slide member 31.A pivot member 42 is inserted into the U-shaped seat 32 and the frontend 411 to interconnect each foot support seat 41 to the correspondingslide member 31. A guide rail 414 is provided on each foot support seat41 to extend in a direction from the front end 411 to the rear end 412of each foot support seat 41 and to receive a plurality of rollers 431as shown in FIG. 4. Each foot support member 4 further includes a footplate 43 which is mounted movably on each foot support seat 41 and isconnected to the rollers 431.

According to the present invention, the foot plates 43 are connected tothe respective rotary members 24 through linkage units for reciprocatingthe foot plates 43 when the slide members 31 move forward and backward.Each linkage unit may be made up of two or more interconnected arms.Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 in combination with FIGS. 2 and 3, eachlinkage unit in this embodiment includes first and second arms 51 and 53which are pivoted to each other. The first arm 51 has opposite first andsecond ends 511 and 512. The first end 511 is connected to thecorresponding rotary member 24 by being pivoted to the pivotal end 311of the corresponding slide member 31. The second arm 53 has a first end531 connected pivotally to the first arm 51 and a second end 532connected pivotally to the corresponding foot plate 43. The position ofthe first end 531 of the second arm 53 relative to the first end 511 ofthe first arm 51 may be adjusted to increase or decrease the length ofthe stroke of each foot plate 43.

Referring to FIG. 5 in combination with FIG. 2, an adjustment mechanismfor adjusting the length of the stroke of each foot plate 43 includes aplurality of retaining holes 513 formed in the first arm 51 at intervalsalong the length of the first arm 51 between the first and second ends511 and 512, and an adjustment piece 521 which is mounted slidably onthe first arm 51. Particularly, the adjustment piece 521 straddles onthe first arm 51 and includes two legs 5211 engaged slidably with thefirst arm 51. An internally threaded hollow member 522 is integral withthe adjustment piece 521 and projects from the adjustment piece 521opposite to the legs 5211. The threaded hollow member 522 is insertedinto a pivot hole 533 in the first end 531 of the second arm 53. A pivotmember 52 is threadedly inserted into the threaded hollow member 522 andhas an end tip 524 extending into a selected one of the retaining holes513, thereby holding fixedly the adjustment piece 521 relative to theselected retaining hole 513 in the first arm 51 and connecting pivotallythe first end 531 of the second arm 53 to a selected one of theretaining holes 513 in the first arm 51. If the position of the firstend 531 of the second arm 53 is to be changed, the pivot member 52 maybe turned outward so that the end tip 524 of the pivot member 52disengages from the first arm 51. An enlarged head 523 of the pivotmember 52 extends outwardly of the threaded hollow member 522 tofacilitate turning of the pivot member 52 by the user. By turning theenlarged head 523, the end tip 524 of the pivot member 52 can engage anddisengage from the selected retaining hole 513.

Referring once again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first end 511 of each firstarm 51 is pivoted to the pivotal end 311 of the corresponding slidemember 31 about an axis (p) which is parallel and adjacent to an axis(q) about which the pivotal end 311 of the corresponding slide member 31is pivoted to the rotary member 24. The axis (p) is located on one sideof the axis (q) opposite to the sliding end 312 of the slide member 31.A control mechanism includes a first gear 54 which is mounted on one ofthe rotary members 24 in a coaxial relationship with the pivotal end 311of the corresponding slide member 31. The first gear 54 interlocks witha second gear 55 which is mounted rotatably on the pivotal end 311 ofthe slide member 31 in a coaxial relationship with the first end 511 ofthe first arm 51. The first gear 54 is fixed to the pivotal end 311 ofthe corresponding slide member 31, and is turnable together with thepivotal end 311. When the rotary member 24 rotates, the first gear 54will drive the second gear 55 to rotate in a direction opposite to thatof the first gear 54. On the other hand, the number of teeth of thefirst gear 54 is equal to that of the second gear 55. When the firstgear 54 makes one revolution, the second gear 55 together with the firstarm 51 turns by an angle of 360 degrees in an opposite direction.

The exercise machine (A) further includes a pair of swinging arms 61mounted pivotally on the upstanding frame 22, a pair of handles 611respectively connected to the swinging arms 61, and a pair ofreciprocating rods 62. Each reciprocating rod 62 has a front endconnected pivotally to a lower end of the corresponding swinging arm 61and a rear part connected fixedly to the corresponding foot support seat41 through first and second pins 63. The movement of the foot supportseat 41 is therefore related to the movement of the correspondingreciprocating rod 62 in addition to the movement of the correspondingslide member 31.

Referring again to FIGS. 6 and 7, the pivotal end 311 of one of theslide members 31 rotates to a position corresponding to a nine o'clockposition. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the pivotal end 311 of the slide member 31rotates to a position corresponding to a three o'clock position.

When the user stands on the foot plates 43 and exercises by movinghis/her legs, the pivotal ends 311 of the slide members 31 rotates aboutan axis (L) along with the rotary members 24, and the sliding ends 312of the slide members 31 slide on the base 21. When the pivotal end 311of one of the slide members 31 moves upward and forward from theposition shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first gear 54 connected theretoturns clockwise and the corresponding second gear 55 rotatescounterclockwise. As the second gear 55 rotates in a direction oppositeto the direction of the first gear 54, the first arm 51 is turnable in adirection opposite to the rotating direction of the pivotal end 311 ofthe slide member 31.

Due to the movements of the slide members 31 and the reciprocating rods62, the foot support seats 41 can move along an elliptical path. Inaddition, because of the opposite direction rotation of the first arms51 relative to the pivotal ends 311 of the slide members 31, each footplate 43 moves forward when the corresponding slide member 31 movesforward and rearward when the corresponding slide member 31 movesrearward. When each slide member 31 reaches its rearmost position, thecorresponding foot plate 43 arrives at its rearmost position. When eachslide member 31 reaches its frontmost position, the corresponding footplate 43 arrives at its frontmost position. As such, the length of thestroke of each foot plate 43 is prolonged or the length of theelliptical path along a front-to-rear direction of the exercise machine(A) is increased without increasing the height of the elliptical path ina bottom-to-top direction.

Note that, when one of the slide members 31 moves forward, thecorresponding first arm 51 extends in a direction substantially the sameas that of the slide member 31 and is moved forwardly of the slidemember 31 as shown in FIG. 9. In this state, the second end 532 of thesecond arm 53 will pull the corresponding foot plate 43 to the frontmostposition. When the slide member 31 moves rearward, the first arm 51extends in a direction substantially the same as that of the slidemember 31 and is moved rearward as shown in FIG. 7. In this state, thesecond end 532 of the second arm 53 pushes the corresponding foot plate43 to its rearmost position relative to the corresponding foot supportseat 41.

The rearmost and frontmost positions of the foot plates 43 may be variedby moving the adjustment pieces 521 along the respective first arms 51.Referring once again to FIGS. 2, 6 and 8, the first end 531 of thesecond arm 53 is connected to the first arm 51 through one of theretaining holes 513 proximate to the first end 511 of the first arm 51.In FIGS. 7 and 9, the first end 531 of the second arm 53 is connected toone of the retaining holes 513 farthest from the first end 511 of thefirst arm 51. The rearmost position of the foot plate 43 shown in FIG. 6is changed by a distance “D” in FIG. 7. The frontmost position of thefoot plate 43 shown in FIG. 8 is changed by a distance “D” in FIG. 9.This means that the length of the elliptical path in the front-to-reardirection is increased in FIGS. 7 and 9. The length of the ellipticalpath is therefore variable through an adjustment using the adjustmentpiece 521 and the retaining holes 513.

According to the present invention, the first and second gears 54 and 55used in the first embodiment may be replaced by a belt-and-pulleyassembly as shown in FIG. 10, or a friction roller assembly as shown inFIG. 11. The belt-and-pulley assembly includes a cross belt 58 and apair of first and second pulleys 56 and 57 which are coaxial with thepivotal end 311 of the slide member 31 and the first arm 51,respectively. The friction roller assembly includes a pair of rubberrollers 59 which are in contact with each other and which arerespectively coaxial with the pivotal end 311 and the first arm 51. Bothof the belt-and-pulley assembly and the friction roller assembly areable to turn the first arm 51 in a direction opposite to that of theslide member 31, like the first and second gears 54 and 55.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a second embodiment of the exercisemachine according to the present invention is shown to include a support2′, two slide members 31′, and two foot support members 4′. A rotarymember 24′ is mounted on a rear part of a base 21′ of the support 2′ andis connected to the slide members 31′ having lower ends 312′ sliding onthe base 21′.

Foot support seats 41′ of the foot support members 4′ are mountedfixedly on the respective slide members 31′ to support foot plates 43′,respectively. Each foot plate 43′ is slidable forward and rearward alongrails 411′ provided on the corresponding foot support seat 41′. A pairof reciprocating members 64′ are connected respectively to the slidemembers 31′ and to two swinging arms 61′ that are in turn mounted on anupstanding frame 22′ of the support 2′.

Each foot plate 43′ is connected pivotally to a second arm 53 which inturn is pivoted to a first arm 51. The first arm 51 is connectedpivotally to a pivotal end 311′ of the corresponding slide member 31′.First and second gears 54 and 55 are connected respectively to the firstarm 51 and the pivotal end 311′ of the slide member 31′. Since theoperation of the exercise machine of this embodiment is similar to thatof the previous embodiment, it will not be described herein.

Due to the provision of the foot plates 43, 43′ which are slidablerelative to the slide members 31, 31′, the length of the stroke of thefoot plates 43, 43′ or the length of the elliptical path along thefront-to-rear direction can be adjusted or enlarged according to theneed of the user.

Therefore, the exercise machine provides a wide range of stroke lengthsand can accommodate ergonomically different users having varying heightsand body structures. In addition, although the length of the ellipticalpath along the front-to-rear direction is prolonged, the height of theelliptical path along the top-to-bottom direction is not increased, thuseliminating the problem of overstressing or hurting the user's feet.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations andequivalent arrangements.

1. An exercise machine comprising: a support extending in afront-to-rear direction and having a rotating mechanism mounted thereon;a pair of slide members mounted on said support for reciprocatingmovement and each having a pivotal end connected to said rotatingmechanism and a sliding end slidable on said support; a foot platemounted movably on one of said slide members; a linkage unit connectingsaid foot plate to said rotating mechanism for reciprocating said footplate on said one of said slide members; and a control mechanismassociated with said linkage unit for actuating said foot plate to moveforward when said one of said slide members moves forward and to moverearward when said one of said slide members moves rearward.
 2. Theexercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said linkage unitincludes at least first and second arms which are connected pivotally toeach other, said first arm being connected pivotally to said pivotal endof said one of said slide members, said second arm connected pivotallyto said foot plate.
 3. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 2,wherein said control mechanism is connected to said pivotal end and saidfirst arm for turning said first arm and said pivotal end in oppositedirections.
 4. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidcontrol mechanism includes a gear assembly.
 5. The exercise machine asclaimed in claim 4, wherein said gear assembly includes a first gearmounted coaxially with said pivotal end, and a second gear mountedcoaxially with said first arm, said first and second gears interlockingeach other.
 6. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidcontrol mechanism includes a pair of pulleys which are coaxial with saidpivotal end of said one of said slide members and said first arm,respectively, and a cross belt extending over said pulleys.
 7. Theexercise machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control mechanismincludes a pair of rubber rollers which are in contact with each otherand which are respectively coaxial with said pivotal end of said one ofsaid slide members and said first arm.
 8. The exercise machine asclaimed in claim 2, further comprising an adjustment mechanismassociated with said linkage unit for adjusting the distance of thestroke of said foot plate on said one of said slide members.
 9. Theexercise machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first arm has afirst end connected pivotally to said pivotal end of one of said slidemembers, and a second end opposite to said first end, said second armhaving a first end connected to said first arm through said adjustmentmechanism.
 10. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein saidadjustment mechanism includes a plurality of retaining holes provided insaid first arm at intervals between said first and second ends of saidfirst arm and along the length of said first arm, and a pivot unit forconnecting said first end of said second arm to a selected one of saidretaining holes.
 11. An exercise machine comprising: a support extendingin a front-to-rear direction and having a rotating mechanism mountedthereon; a pair of slide members mounted on said support for reciprocalmovement and each having a pivotal end connected pivotally to saidrotating mechanism; a foot plate mounted movably on one of said slidemembers; a linkage unit connecting to said foot plate to said rotatingmechanism for reciprocating said foot plate on said one of said slidemembers; and a control mechanism associated with said linkage unit foractuating said foot plate to move forward when said one of said slidemembers moves forward and to move rearward when said one of said slidemembers moves rearward.
 12. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 11,wherein said linkage unit includes at least first and second arms whichare connected pivotally to each other, said first arm being connectedpivotally to said pivotal end of said one of said slide members, saidsecond arm connected pivotally to said foot plate.
 13. The exercisemachine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said control mechanism isconnected to said pivotal end and said first arm for turning said firstarm and said pivotal end in opposite directions.
 14. The exercisemachine as claimed in claim 13, wherein said pivotal end is turnableabout a first axis, and said first arm is turnable about a second axisadjacent said first axis, said control mechanism being connected to saidfirst and second axes.